Apparel fastener



Nov 20, 1945. R ELLIS APPAREL FASTENER Filed March 2'7, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet F IG. 2.

Fl G. 6.

INVENTOR.

Nov. 20, 1945. R. ELLIS 2,389,298

APPAREL FASTENER Filed March 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FIG. w.

Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPAREL FASTENEB Robert Ellis, Belleville, N. 1.

Application March 27, 1943, Serial No. 480,749

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparel fasteners and the principal object ofthe invention is to enable the flaps of a garment to be secured to eachother by means of permanent magnets in lieu of buttons or othercustomary mechanical fastenings.

Another object of the invention is to enable the flaps of a garment tobe more quickly and conveniently fastened or unfastened than is nowpossible by other means.

A still further object of the invention is to enable a garment to besecured around the body of a wearer with an elastic fit if desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a magneticfastener which will enable the wearer to conveniently and quickly securethe garment around the body to any adjustable degree of tightnessdesired.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a garment fasteningmeans which is entirely invisible either when the flaps of the garmentare closed or open.

Other and further objects will appear in the specifications and will bespecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, and in which:

Fig. i is a top View of an article of apparel showing the flaps thereofclosed and secured by my magnetic fastener.

Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1 with the flaps in open position.

Fig. 2A is a front view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating amodification thereof.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. l. with a slight modification thereof.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a pair of permanent magnets with the legs orpole pieces thereof in corrugated or serrated form for exerting greatertractive force with each other.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 2, illustrating a modification thereof.

Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 5 showing the flaps secured and the articleof apparel closed.

Fig. 7 illustrates how a magnetic fastener would be used to close theopening of a pocket.

Fig. 8 illustrates how my magnetic fastener would be used on a. garter,belt or similar article.

Fig. 9 shows the two ends of a garter and how the magnetic fastener isarranged to operate same.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view on the line F-F of Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 illustrates a method of securing a garment and incidentallyproviding an elastic fit thereto.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a variation of magnet structure especiallyapplicable to apparel closures where considerable tensional strain isencountered in the wearing thereof.

Fig. 14 shows a cross sectional view of a magnetic button secured to thegarment flaps.

Fig. 15 illustrates the magnetic button of Fig.

i4 and its armature in front view.

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view of a modified gorm of magnetic buttonsecured to the garment aps.

Fig. 17 illustrates a still further modification of my magnetic buttonespecially adapted to be used with garments of light weight fabric.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar numeralsand character of reference refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews, the numerals its. and MB denote the usual two associated clothflaps of a garment which are usually drawn together about the body of awearer an then secured in such closed position by means of buttons orother fastening means. In lieu of buttons or other fastening means asnow customarily used, I employ permanent magnets HA and 52B, sewed,glued, riveted or otherwise satisfactorily attached to each flap HA andH13 respectively. the inherent magnetism remanent in these permanentmagnets causthem to forcibly hold together when once contacted and toresist separation as will be readily understood, thus securely holdingthe flaps of the garment in closed position similar to any otherfastening means, much less effort and time being required in suchclosing operation. The same is true when it is desired to open thegarment, it being merely necessary to force the flaps apart by insertinga finger therebetween and forcing the finger downwards which issumciently effective in overcoming the magnetic attraction between thepermanent magnets.

So as not to interfere with the natural flexibility of the garment, thepermanent magnets HA and 12B are composed of thin flexible sheet steelstrips and each having a comparatively large number of magneticpole-pieces l3 protruding from a common yoke H as illustrated in Figs. 2and 7. Each pole-piece I3 is of course of opposite magnetic polarity toits adjoining pole-piece of the same magnet and the magnets HA and I23are so secured to the flaps HA and HB respectively that, when the flapsoverlap each other at the correct place for closing the garment asbetter illustrated in Fig. 1, the opposite pole-pieces of each magnetwill be in alinement but all the "north" magnetic poles of magnet IIAwill contact all the "south" magnetic poles .of magnet I23, as indicatedby the letters N and 8 respectively in Fig. 1. The same arrangement ofopposite magnetic pole-pieces contacting each other is to be taken forgranted in allthe illustrations herein showing U-shaped magnets. Thepermanent magnet strips are sewed to the cloth flaps of the garment bymeans of thread stitches 20 passing through the holes l or are glued 0rriveted to the cloth flaps. If desired, the upper and lower pole-pieceof each magnet I2A may be provided with a snap'fastener ISA formeddirectly out of the thin metal magnet by punching while the co-actingreceptive part of the snap fastener, 18B is formed in the same manner inthe polepiece of magnet IZB, thus providing additional closure security.Instead of having two permsnent magnets attached to opposite flaps ashere'- tofore described, one of the flaps may be provided with anunmagnetized flexible iron armature ll composed of a number of finewires or screen and sewed to the flap NB, this arrangement beingillustrated in the lower right hand corner of Fig. 2. It will be notedthat, due to the large number of pole pieces l3 and their close juxta-,

position, as compared to buttons, the garment flaps will be heldtogether very closely along their edges without much possibility of windor weather entering therebetween. Y

Modifications of. the above are illustrated in Fig. 3 in which thepermanent magnets HA and HE are composed of a, plurality of very thinlaminated strips and covered with a thin cloth lining IBA and 183respectively, the lining rendering the magnets invisible yet beingsufficiently thin to permit the magnetism to penetrate therethrough andsecure the flaps in place with almost the same attractive force as thatarrangement illustrated in Fig. 1. The laminated magnets have the doubleadvantage of greater flexibility and greater remanence per crosssectional area as compared to a single strip. In Fig. 4 is shown a stillfurther modification which is designed to increase the tractive force ofthe permanent magnets with each other, the pole pieces l3 herein beingcorrugated so as to snugly fit into each other, it being readilyunderstood that an opposite pull on the magnets would tend to lift partsof the corrugations from each other, such actual separation of any partbeing resisted by tractive force whereas-when a simple sliding actionoccurs along the face of the magnet, considerably less magnetic force isevident. Besides, the magnetic force holding these corrugated orserrated pole pieces together will insure greater mechanical frictionagainst separation due to the an ular travel of the pole pieces when astraight pull is exerted. However, when used to close pocket flaps asillustrated in Fig. 7, the heavy line I9 denoting .the opening, the polepieces iii are forcibly separated at right angles to the magnetic facesand away from each other, necessitating greater effort than where alongitudinal sliding motion is used. Of course the magnets HA and I23 inthe pocket I! are invisible as shown by the dotted lines. It will alsobe noticed that the magnetic closures illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3are both flexible and adjustable, that is, the fiap I IB may be foldedover flap A to a more or less extent, determined by the length of thepole pieces It, the magnetic attraction then holding the flaps in thatset position, thus enabling the wearer to adjust the tightness of thegarment about the body to suit his desires. Should unusual tensionalstrain be applied to the aseacca flaps I IA and B. such as by heavybreathing. bending the body, etc., the pole pieces will resistivelyslide on each other from their original set position to a place ofequilibrium strain existing between the now lessened tension and thestill forceful magnetic attraction of the permanent magnets, thisarrangement providing for greater wearing comfort than where the flapsare definitely secured by a-purely mechanical contrivance withoutproviding any elasticity.

A row of individual magnets 28A and BIB may also be used on each flap asillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and in which the permanent magnets arepreferably moulded within thin disks 22 of plastic material, thusresembling buttons in appearance and which may be sewed-to the hen bythread in the usual manner through holes 23, or fastened in any otherway most applicable.

Another application of my magnetic fastener is illustrated in Figs. 8and 9 in which the numeral 2% denotes either an elastic band such as 1would be used for a garter, or anon-elastic band such as would beusedfor a belt, one of the ends in either case being provided with a thinflexible armature it while to the other end is attached a number ofpermanent magnets 26, preferably in the shape of thin steel barsand-having their magnetic attraction of the permanent magnets 26 for thearmature 25, the armature closing the magnetic circuit between the northand south pole pieces and thus forming a strong tractive force. Besides,owing to the multiplicity of the spaced bar magnets 26, adjustability asto size of the object surrounded is simultaneously secured as well asgive to a certain extent if too great a tensional strain is applied, yetpermitting the magnets to retain hold of the armature in such newposition. Both the armature 25 and the bar magnets 26 may be seweddirectly to the band 24 or. first attached to a cloth strip. 2'l whichin turn may be more effectively sewn to the band 2| as indicated by thestitches 28. It will be evident that either a garter or a beltequip dwith this apparel fastener can be applied to and'removed from the wearerwith a minimum amount of effort and time and incidentally providesadjustability as to length.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a method of appl ing an elastic fit to a garment,the flaps HA and B being each provided with a plurality of permanentmagnets I2AA and IZBB respectively, similar to the constructionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. However, in this case, each magnet BB isfree to move within the pocket formed inthe flap 3 by the stitches 29.the elastic band 30, which is secured around the yoke of the magnetIIBB,

normally holding the magnet in the position lllustrated in Fig. 11,while when in use, the magnet may be held in the position illustrated inFig. 10 and cause the elastic band to stretch,

especially when the wearer breathes heavily,

onthelineG-Gotl'lg.l2. Itiswellknown that the transverse slidingfriction of two magnetic elements in contact has much less resistancethan the traction or direct pulling away from each other and as it is inmany applications inconvenient to apply direct magnetic tractive forceto my apparel fastener without making such closure device tooconspicious and cumbersome, 1' provide means whereby the tendency tosliding of the magnets due to unusual. tension is prevented by a simplemechanical lock, the pole pieces providing the tractive force necessaryto hold the locking means in position. In this case, the pole pieces Ahave punched in them a number of tongues 32 which extend downward asillustrated in Fig. 13 while permanent magnet i2]: is provided withcorrespondingly spaced holes 33 so that when the magnet H3 is placedunderneath magnet A, the tongues 32 will enter the holes 33 and themagnetic attraction of the pole pieces will prevent their disengagementexcept by forcible means. Of course it is understood that thisarrangement may be used with any kind of garment or apparel attachedthereto.

Figs. 14 and illustrate still another application of my invention and inwhich I provide a magnetic button 34 in the shape of a thin circulardisk of material such as plastic which is glued or sewed to the frontface of the garment flap ilB, a circular permanent magnet disk 35 beingfitted into the lower portion of the disk 34, held thereto either byfriction or glue, this lower portion of the disk 34 being preferablysunk into the garment flap by cutting out a corresponding hole so as toprovide a flush face to the garment iront as shown in Fig. 14. Forgreater magnetic holding power, the magnet '35 is provided with both anorth and south pole piece on its outer face by means of the annulargroove 36, there bein to b: sewed onto the garment if preferred, bymeans of stitches 33. Associated with permanent magnet 35 attached toflap MB is the soft iron disk armature 33 attached to flap HA, whichdisk may also be sewed to the garment by means of the holes 40 andstitches 4|. This disk armature 33 is sufllciently small to enable it toeasily ilt into the round hole 42 left by the space between the upperface of the permanent magnet t5 and the annular rim on the outside ofthe plastic disk 34, so that when the garment flap in is pressed againstflap H13 and the armature 38 htted into hole 42, the magnetic attractionbetween permanent magnet 35 and armature 33 will cause them to be heldin such position and, due to the recess provided by hole 42 and theinwardly inclined sides of hole 42, the disk cannot be dislodged throughany tension applied to the flaps customary while wearing but, in case itis desired to remove the garment from the body of the wearer, the flapHA is simply pulled outwards with sufllcient force to overcome themagnetic traction holding armature 33 to magnet 33 whereby the disk iseasily pulled out of hole 42. It will here be noted that the use of thismagnetic button will permit a garment to be more conveniently put on andtaken of! than by means of the conventional button and buttonhole asthis magnetic button can be easily manipulated while wearing gloves, incase fingers are numb through cold, in difllcult places of access, byyoung children, etc., while the appearance of the garment is enhanced bythe elimination of buttons and button-holes, incialso holes 31 so as toenable the button 40 dentally giving to the garment a clean cutstreamlined appearance.

Fig. 16 illustrates a similar view to Fig. 14 and shows the magneticbutton 35 sewed to the outside face of flap 3 and without anyembellishing plastic holder. In this case however, the armature disk 33is held from sliding movement across the face of magnet 34 by means ofthe depression created by having the central or north magnetic polepiece of less height than its encircling annular south magnetic polepiece, the armature disk 33 easily fitting into this depression and heldthereon by magnetic attraction, the annular shoulder on the inner sideof the south magnetic pole piece preventing sliding off.

In Fig. 17 is disclosed a slight variation from the magnetic buttons ofFigs. 14 and 16, in this case the button being especially adapted forapparel made of thin cloth such as is generally used for shirts,dresses, etc. The armature of soft sheet iron stamping 34A is sewed orattached to the outside of flap 3, this armature having an annulardepression 42A into which the disk 39A loosely fits when the flap HA, towhich the disk is sewed, is folded over flap 3. The disk 39A is sewed toflap HA through the medium of the two holes 40 which are connected by ashallow trough 43 into which the threads used in sewing on the buttonare designed to lay so as not to form a protuberance and prevent theface of the disk 39A to lay flat against the bot: tom face of the hole42A for better magnetic contact and neater appearance. In this case, thedisk 39A is permanently magnetized, this being easily accomplished evenwith such a thin piece of steel or alloy, the outer face being assumedto be the north pole piece while the inner face, against the cloth ilapHA, will" be the south pole piece. With this magnetic button also, themagnetic attraction holds the two parts of the button together while theannular shoulder of hole 42A prevents sliding apart.

Of course it will be understood that the apparel fastener hereindisclosed may be used on various forms of apparel such as coats, shirts,pockets, trousers, garters, belts, shoes, etc., as well as for numerousother applications outside of the garment line such as tent flaps,automobile tops, wallets, handbags, etc.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that l have evolvedan apparel fastener which has many advantages over others now in use asit can be made absolutely invisible either when the garment is open orclosed; its use is more convenient when either closing or opening thegarment flaps; it is more quickly manipulated; it is adjustable to aconsiderable degree as the permanent magnets will hold the garment flapsat any originally set position; it is elastic in that not only will themagnets slide on each other under an excessive strain but elasticmaterial may be conveniently associated between the magnets and thegarment; it is flexible in that the permanent magnets may be made ofsuch thin spring steel that they will flex along with the garment whilein use; it can be constructed to be of neat and varied appearance; andincidentally will resist as' much'tensional strain as any mechanicalfastener as the magnetic qualities of my fastener are so designed toprovide mechanical looking for same; besides, when used with pocketswill automatically close the flaps when the hand is withdrawn; can beproduced as cheap and cheaper in many respects as other apparelfasteners; and will eliminate all 4 button-holes and present a neatclean cut appearance to the garment. I

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the inventionhereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificingthe advantages oi the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparel closure comprising two sitely disposed flexible flaps oian article oi wearing apparel. one or more permanent as nets attached tothe margin at one of said flaw,

assasss and a plurality of armatures attached to the margin oi theopposite flap, said armatures consisting of substantially thin flexiblemagnetically attractive wires or strips arranged parallel to said marginof said opposite flap and slightly separated irom each other. 4

2. An apparel closure as in claim 1, said separated flexible armaturewires or strips being attached to said flap so as to be invisible fromthe m outer side oi said article of apparel.

' aoaaar Elms.

